Manuel Ernest Dillow Iii

Manuel “Mickey” Ernest Dillow III, 67, of Kingsport, TN, passed away on Thursday, April 4th, 2019 with his family by his side. Mickey was born in Johnson City in 1951 and he attended Science Hill High School. He had always lived next door to pretty Paula but it wasnt until after school they courted and their life long adventure started. They quickly moved to Florida so they could be married. It was while he was in Florida he started an apprenticeship into pipe fitting, plumbing, and welding where he found his true calling. He used his new trades to work on a few amazing projects including several nuclear plants, TVA Sequoyah and Watts Bar Dams, and Holston Defense. Before too long they decided to settled down in Kingsport where he raised three wonderful kids and one named Michael. Never liking the name Manuel this is where he decided the handing down of the family name would stop. To know Mickey you know that he loved his family dearly and if he wasnt working he was there with them. They camped together in places like Cades Cove, Crazy Horse, and KOA Kampground. He spent time teaching his family to fish, something he really enjoyed. Mickey enjoyed watching baseball games, going to local stadiums, and especially attending Fulton County Stadium. Some of his kids (and grandkids) played sports and he was there by the sidelines supporting them. He even helped coach his sons little league. He was a welding instructor at NEFF Vocational Center in Abingdon, VA for 14 years and was very proud of his teaching career. He enjoyed helping his students go on to rewarding careers, in fact several of his students went to compete at the RCA Dome where they placed very high proficeincy. A few of his students went on to work with the restoration of the Hunley Civil War Submarine project. After his retirement from teaching he took on a part time job at Food City in Gray where he made many many friends. Mickey was a good Christian man, hard worker, kind soul, proud of his accomplishments, and he loved his family from the bottom of his big ol heart. He will be greatly missed by so many. He is preceded in death by his parents, Manuel Dillow II and Mary Frances Thompson Dillow; brother, Randy Wilfong. He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Paula Dillow; son, Michael Dillow and wife Emily; daughters, Dawn Sutherland and husband Shane, Angela Bates and husband Jason, Danielle Bergemann and husband Jon; grandchildren, Justin, Mary Beth, Landon, Arianna, Allina, Hailey, Hannah, Jacob, Caleb, Emma, and Ella. Visitation for family and friends will be held at Crossroads Church (1300 Suncrest Dr, Gray, TN 37615), on Monday April 8th from 5pm to 7pm. Celebration of his Life will follow at 7pm with Pastor Curtis Booher officiating. Graveside service will be held on Tuesday April 9th at East Lawn Cemetery at 11am. Pallbearers will be Shane Sutherland, Justin Sutherland, Landon Sutherland, Jason Bates, Jon Bergemann, and Michael Dillow. Honorary pallbearers will be Jacob and Caleb Bates. Trinity Memorial Centers Funeral Home (423-723-8177) is honored to serve the family.